Improvement in machines for cleaning barrels and casks



c. s. STEARNS & c. B. easement),

Machines for Cleaning Barr els and Casks.

Patented;Aug.4,1874.

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5% I, l //A TNE GRAPH") CG. FHOTD-LITHJSS- +l PARK PLACEJLY,

mean ISTATESSPATENT crews CALEB S. STEARNS AND CHARLES GREENWOOD, OF MARLBOROUGH,

MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT lNlMACHINESgFOR CLEANINGBARRELSAND cAsK s.

- Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 153,791, dated August 4, 1874; application filed January 23, 1874. I

ated by two shafts, geared together and having reversely-pitched screw-threads formed on them. A chain or some other article suitable for rubbing the inside of the barrel is introduced with some water, and during the revolution of the barrel slides over one side, across the head, down the other side and across the other head. To make the chain rub every part of the barrel, the latter is constantly shifted on its axis by an automatic shifting mechanism, consisting of a lever, having its fulcrum on the pivot of one of the clamping-heads and furnished with a springpawl, which engages with a ratchet-wheel, provided on such clamp. During each revolution of the revolving frame this lever is arrested, by coming in contact with the baseframe, and moves the ratchet one tooth. After it passes the frame it reassumes its former position, engaging with a new tooth.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a front view of the improved machine, showing one of the clamping-heads partially in section; and Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of the same when the revolving frame is in a Vertical position, as indicated by the dotted line a; w in Fig.1, viewing the machine from below. 7

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts inboth the figures.

A is the base-frame. It is of rectangular form and has two side standards a a, for supporting the trunnions b b, of the swinging or revolving frame B, which is also rectangular and holds the barrel or cask which is washed in this machine. Two clamping-heads, O G, hold the barrel, and are rendered adjustable toward and from each other to adapt the machine to barrels of different sizes, and to the barrel, and are pivoted to bars I) D,

through whose end portions shafts E E pass and guide them in their movements, and also,

by means of screw-threads formed on them, actuate the heads to clamp the heads of the barrel or to release them. The screw-threads, on the opposite ends of these shafts, are reversely pitched, so that the rotation of the shafts will cause .both of the bars D to move inward or outward simultaneously, and therefore expedite the operation of the clamps very much. A shaft, Gr, arranged at one end of the frame B, and provided with bevelwheels, gears the two shafts E E together, and a hand-,wheehc, on the one end of such shaft affords a ready and convenient means of operating it. The clamping-heads are pivoted to the bars D D, to enable them tobe turned to shift the barrel on its axis, for the purpose of insuring the washing of every part. On the outer side of one of the clamps there is a ratchet-wheel, H; which is operated by a pawl on a lever, I, having its fulcrum on the pivot of the clamp, and extending out so far as to come in contact with one of the standards of the base-frame during each revolution of the revolving frame. The pawl on this lever is held against the ratchet by a small spiral spring, 8. Another spring, k, of this kind causes the lever to reassume its normal position after having been displaced by the caused to revolve by a belt acting on a pulley,

1?, provided on one of its trunnions or journals, and the barrel being thereby turned over and over the chain is caused to. rub or slide along its side, across its head, thence along its other side and across its other head.v Of

course, so long as the barrel occupies the same axial position the chain will rub over the same path and only so much of the barrel will be washed. The barrel does not, however, maintain the same position, but is shifted during each revolution by means of the lever I, Whose outer end, on coming in contact with the standard, is arrested and detained till, by the continued motion of the revolving frame, the lever is caused to assume a position that enables it to pass the standard. This detention causes it to shift the barrel slightly through the medium of the ratchet-Wheel. As soon as freed therefrom the lever is pulled back to its former position, and its pawl plays over the next tooth of the ratchet and takes a new hold.

What we claim as our invention is-- Witnesses:

VVILLIAM BARNES, WILLIAM E. HALL. 

